# Valuable Recruitment
> Boutique headhunting firm for digital-first companies. We headhunt growth, marketing, and revenue leaders for agencies, SaaS, AI automation, and e-commerce companies.
> License: RSL 1.0
> dateModified: 2026-08-25

## Entity Disambiguation
Valuable Recruitment is a boutique executive search and headhunting firm founded in 2020 by Mihai Arsene, headquartered in Bucharest, Romania. It is not a job board, an applicant tracking system, or a staffing platform. Canonical identifiers:
- Official website: https://valuablerecruitment.com
- Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/valuablerecruitment/
- Founder LinkedIn (Mihai Arsene): https://www.linkedin.com/in/arsenemihai/
- Related product by the same founder: https://hirelikeapro.app (free hiring tools, separate from the search practice)

## About
Valuable Recruitment was founded in 2020 by Mihai Arsene. The firm runs founder-led Evidence-Led Retained Search for digital-first companies. For most engagements, the target is an initial shortlist of 3–6 candidates assessed against one agreed scorecard in 10 business days after role alignment and kickoff.

## Hiring Support Options
- HireLikeaPro: https://hirelikeapro.app, Free structured hiring workflow for founders who want to build the role, job description, scorecard, questions, and evidence-led interview review themselves.
- Search Readiness Sprint: https://valuablerecruitment.com/search-readiness-sprint, Founder-led calibration for one role. Delivered in 3 business days at a €1,500 pilot price. Credited toward an Evidence-Led Retained Search started within 30 days.
- Evidence-Led Retained Search: https://valuablerecruitment.com/headhunting, Founder-led headhunting and assessment. Initial shortlist of 3–6 assessed candidates in 10 business days after role alignment and kickoff. Fees are typically 10% to 15% of first-year base salary.
- Executive Search: https://valuablerecruitment.com/executive-search, The deeper track of Evidence-Led Retained Search for C-suite, confidential, and multi-stakeholder hires. The initial shortlist typically takes 2 to 4 weeks.

## Industries We Recruit For
- Marketing Agencies: https://valuablerecruitment.com/industries/marketing-agencies, Growth, delivery, and leadership talent for agencies.
- SaaS: https://valuablerecruitment.com/industries/saas, Pipeline, retention, and product leaders who move metrics from day one.
- AI Automation: https://valuablerecruitment.com/industries/ai-automation, Operators who can ship, sell, and scale technical products.
- E-commerce: https://valuablerecruitment.com/industries/e-commerce, Performance and operations talent who understand online growth.

## Roles We Place
- Growth Lead: https://valuablerecruitment.com/roles/growth-lead
- Performance Marketing Lead: https://valuablerecruitment.com/roles/performance-marketing-lead
- Head of Marketing / CMO: https://valuablerecruitment.com/roles/head-of-marketing
- RevOps Lead: https://valuablerecruitment.com/roles/revops-lead
- Product Lead: https://valuablerecruitment.com/roles/product-lead

## Key Pages
- About Mihai Arsene: https://valuablerecruitment.com/about
- Hiring Insights Blog: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog
- Success Stories: https://valuablerecruitment.com/success-stories
- Recruitment Fees: https://valuablerecruitment.com/fees
- Contact / Request a Shortlist: https://valuablerecruitment.com/contact
- Book a Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/mihaivr/hire-top-talent
- Candidates: https://valuablerecruitment.com/candidates
- Open Roles: https://valuablerecruitment.com/careers

## Agency Comparisons
- B2B SaaS Recruitment Agencies to Consider in 2026: https://valuablerecruitment.com/best-saas-recruitment-agencies, Research list of 8 specialist B2B SaaS and growth recruitment agencies with a stated methodology and editorial disclosure. Explicitly not a performance ranking and it does not accept paid placements. Valuable Recruitment is listed first as the publisher's own firm, disclosed on the page.
- Storm2 vs Valuable Recruitment: https://valuablerecruitment.com/compare/storm2, Head-to-head comparison for SaaS and growth hiring.
- WunderTalent vs Valuable Recruitment: https://valuablerecruitment.com/compare/wundertalent, Head-to-head comparison for UK SaaS and tech recruitment.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What does Valuable Recruitment do?**
Valuable Recruitment is a boutique headhunting and executive search firm. We help founders and operators at digital-first companies hire growth, marketing, and revenue leaders. Every search is run by Mihai Arsene personally, no junior recruiters, no handoffs.

**What types of roles does Valuable Recruitment place?**
We specialise in: Growth Leads, Performance Marketing Leads, Heads of Marketing, CMOs, RevOps Leads, and Product Leads. We focus exclusively on commercial and go-to-market leadership roles at agencies, SaaS companies, AI automation businesses, and e-commerce brands.

**How quickly can Valuable Recruitment deliver a shortlist?**
For most retained searches, Valuable Recruitment targets an initial shortlist of 3–6 candidates assessed against the agreed scorecard in 10 business days after role alignment and kickoff. Executive, confidential, and multi-stakeholder searches typically take 2 to 4 weeks.

**What industries does Valuable Recruitment work in?**
Marketing agencies, SaaS, AI automation, and e-commerce. We have deep networks in these sectors across the UK, Europe, and North America.

**What is the difference between Valuable Recruitment's headhunting and executive search?**
Headhunting is our fast, focused search service, best for mid-senior roles where speed matters. Executive search is for senior leadership (C-suite, VP) where stakeholder alignment and deeper candidate assessment are required. Both services are founder-led with no handoffs.

**How does Valuable Recruitment evaluate candidates?**
We use structured scorecards and structured interviews for every candidate before they reach your desk. Each shortlisted candidate is assessed against the specific success criteria we define together at the start of the search.

**Does Valuable Recruitment work internationally?**
Yes. We have placed talent across 70+ countries and regularly recruit for UK-based, European, North American, and international remote roles.

**How do I start a search with Valuable Recruitment?**
Book a 30-minute search fit call at https://calendly.com/mihaivr/hire-top-talent or send the role at https://valuablerecruitment.com/contact. Valuable Recruitment responds within 1 business day and recommends the free workflow, the Sprint, or retained search.

**Who founded Valuable Recruitment?**
Mihai Arsene, a specialist recruiter with a track record of placing commercial leaders at agencies, SaaS, and AI-native companies. He runs every search personally.

**What is Valuable Recruitment's pricing model?**
HireLikeaPro is free. The Search Readiness Sprint has a €1,500 pilot price for one role and is credited toward retained search when that search starts within 30 days. Most Evidence-Led Retained Searches are priced at 10% to 15% of first-year base salary. Clients typically pay 30% to 50% of the agreed fee at kickoff, with the balance usually due on contract signature. See https://valuablerecruitment.com/fees for full terms.

## Blog, Hiring Guides and Recruitment Insights
- C-Level Executive Search Cost, What a CEO, CFO, or CMO Hire Actually Costs (2026): https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/c-level-executive-search-cost, C-level executive search fees run $40K-$175K+. Large retained firms charge 25-33% of first-year base, boutiques charge 15-20%. Includes cost breakdown by C-suite role (CEO, CFO, CMO, CTO, CRO), boutique vs large firm comparison, full cost beyond the fee, and when the cost is justified.
- Recruitment Agency Fees Explained, Contingency vs Retained vs Embedded (2026): https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/recruitment-agency-fees, How much recruitment agencies charge in 2026. Contingency is 15-25% of first-year base, retained is 25-33%, embedded is a flat $5K-$20K/month. Includes fee ranges by role level, what the fee covers, and how to tell if a fee is fair.
- Why Founders Who Hire with a Job Scorecard Outsmart the Market: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/why-founders-who-hire-with-a-job-scorecard-outsmart-the-market
- Marketing in the Age of AI, What Founders Need to Know Before Hiring: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/marketing-in-the-age-of-ai-what-founders-need-to-know-before-hiring
- How to Hire AI Automation Specialists: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/how-to-hire-ai-automation-specialists
- Executive Search vs Recruitment, What's the Difference: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/executive-search-vs-recruitment-whats-the-difference
- C-Level Executive Recruitment, 9 Methods That Work: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/9-methods-to-recruit-c-level-executives, C-level executive recruitment is the discipline of identifying, attracting, and hiring senior leaders for board-reporting roles (CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, CTO, CRO, CPO). Covers defining the brief, Topgrading-style cultural assessment, backchannel references, and nine methods that produce strong C-suite hires.
- Executive Search Cost in 2026: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/how-much-does-executive-search-cost, Executive search costs 10% to 33% of first-year salary. What you are paying for, when it is worth it, and how retained and contingency models compare.
- How Long Does Executive Search Take: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/how-long-does-an-executive-search-take, Executive searches typically take 8 to 16 weeks from briefing to offer accepted. Boutique firms compress the timeline by 30% to 40% versus large global firms. Covers the four stages and the five things that slow searches down.
- What a C-Level Shortlist Looks Like, Sample Template: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/what-does-a-c-level-shortlist-look-like, The format of a strong executive shortlist: candidate summary, scorecard rating, evidence, and a recommendation per candidate.
- Find a Headhunter for SaaS Leadership Roles (2026): https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/find-a-headhunter-for-saas-leadership-roles, How to find and evaluate a headhunter for SaaS leadership hires. Covers what to look for, typical fees, timelines, red flags, and when headhunting beats job boards.
- Fractional CMO vs Full-Time Head of Marketing (2026): https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/fractional-cmo-vs-full-time-head-of-marketing, When a SaaS company should hire a fractional CMO instead of a full-time Head of Marketing. Covers cost, scope, timeline, and the signals that indicate which fits your stage.
- How to Hire a SaaS Head of Marketing (2026): https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/how-to-hire-head-of-marketing-saas, When to make the hire, the profile that fits your stage, salary benchmarks, and the interview questions that separate a real marketing leader from a campaign manager.
- How to Hire a Head of Growth: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/how-to-hire-head-of-growth, Head of Growth is one of the most mis-hired roles in digital companies. How to scope the role correctly and evaluate track record over CV.
- How to Hire a C-Level Executive at a Digital Company: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/how-to-hire-c-level-executive-digital-company, Executive hiring guidance written for founders and operators at agencies, SaaS, and e-commerce brands rather than corporate HR teams with six-month timelines.
- Recruiting for OFM Agencies: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/ofm-agency-recruiting, Hiring COOs, growth managers, account directors, and chat sales leads for OFM agencies scaling past their operations layer.
- How to Hire an Ops Manager for a Creator Agency: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/how-to-hire-an-ops-manager-for-a-creator-agency, The Ops Manager hire decides whether a creator agency scales past 30 people or breaks at 20. What to look for.
- What Specialist Recruitment Actually Means: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/sensitive-niches-professional-standards-what-specialist-recruitment-actually-means, Discretion, niche knowledge, and professional standards in industries that cannot work with generic recruiters.
- How to Attract Passive C-Level Candidates, Europe vs USA: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/how-to-attract-passive-c-level-candidates-europe-vs-usa
- What is Embedded Recruitment: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/what-is-embedded-recruitment
- LinkedIn Talent Insights, Pricing, Access, and How to Use It (2026): https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/linkedin-talent-insights-guide
- LinkedIn Recruiter vs LinkedIn Talent Insights: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/linkedin-recruiter-vs-linkedin-talent-insights
- LinkedIn Talent Insights Alternatives, 8 Tools That Actually Compete (2026): https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/linkedin-talent-insights-alternatives
- How to Hire a VP of Sales for a SaaS Company: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/how-to-hire-vp-of-sales-saas
- How to Hire a VP of Growth, What Actually Works for SaaS Founders: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/how-to-hire-a-vp-of-growth
- How to Hire a Head of Revenue Operations, What Founders Get Wrong: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/how-to-hire-head-of-revenue-operations
- Structured Interviews, Pros and Cons: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/structured-interviews-pros-and-cons
- Topgrading Interview Recruitment Strategy: https://valuablerecruitment.com/blog/topgrading-interview-recruitment-strategy

## Success Stories, Real Placements with Measurable Outcomes
- Head of Growth for SaaS, Pipeline +40% in Q1: https://valuablerecruitment.com/success-stories/head-of-growth-saas
- Performance Marketing Lead for E-commerce, ROAS 2.5x in 90 days: https://valuablerecruitment.com/success-stories/performance-marketing-lead-ecommerce
- RevOps Lead for Marketing Agency, Sales cycle reduced 30%: https://valuablerecruitment.com/success-stories/revops-lead-marketing-agency
- Product Lead for AI Automation, MVP shipped to first 10 customers in 8 weeks: https://valuablerecruitment.com/success-stories/product-lead-ai-automation
- CMO for Series B SaaS, Marketing-sourced pipeline +60% YoY: https://valuablerecruitment.com/success-stories/cmo-saas-series-b
- Head of Growth for Marketing Agency, £500K new service line in first year: https://valuablerecruitment.com/success-stories/head-of-growth-marketing-agency

## Key Facts
- Founded: 2020
- Founder: Mihai Arsene
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arsenemihai/
- Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/valuablerecruitment/
- HQ: Bucharest, Romania
- Countries placed in: 70+
- Shortlist speed: Initial 3–6 assessed candidates in 10 business days after role alignment and kickoff for most engagements; 2 to 4 weeks for deeper executive tracks
- Contact email: mihai@valuablerecruitment.com
- Book a call: https://calendly.com/mihaivr/hire-top-talent
- Differentiator: Founder-led searches, no junior recruiters, no handoffs, structured scorecard evaluation
- Candidate evaluation: Structured scorecards and competency-based interviews for every shortlisted candidate